Due to the Windows-centric nature of business software, I have also needed to setup Python on a Windows machine. Although setting up Python is easy on a Linux machine it is a little more involved for Windows (understatement). Here is how I did it.

First, download and install one of the Python Windows installers from here. As I am using several older modules I like to work with version 2.7 (the latest release is 2.7.8).

Second, if connecting to a Microsoft SQL database, install the Python ODBC module. I downloaded the 32-bit version for Python 2.7 from here.

Third, I want to install IPython as I find a notebook is the best way to experiment. This is a little long-winded. Download the ez_install.py script as described and found here. I downloaded into my Python directory. Next run the script from the directory (e.g. python ez_setup.py). Then add the Python scripts directory to your Environmental Variables as per here. Then install IPython using the command: easy_install ipython[all].

Fourth, download a Windows installer for Numpy and Pandas from here. I downloaded the 32-bit versions for Python 2.7. Run the installers.

Doing this I can now run a iPython notebook (via the command: ipython notebook – this will open a browser window for your default browser). I found Pandas gave me an error on the initial import as dateutil was missing – this was fixed by running the command: easy_install python-dateutil.